Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday said there were times she was targeted for being a woman even in her capacity as the head of a state government.

Addressing the Shakti Sammelan women’s convention in Jaisalmer before the launch of her 40-day Gaurav Yatra’s second leg, Raje said: “You think I have no problems just because I am the chief minister. But I understand your woes, because even in this post, I have faced problems as a woman. That is why we have designed schemes to empower women, so that they don’t have to plead before anyone.”

The chief minister went on to elaborate on the benefits of the Rajshree scheme, under which a family gets monetary benefits upon the birth of a girl child and then at various stages of her life (in accordance with her level of education).

She also highlighted the benefits of the Bhamashah scheme, which extends health insurance benefits to women and credits funds directly into their bank accounts.

Raje said the schemes introduced by her government had enabled several households, especially those in rural areas, to celebrate the birth of a girl with just as much joy as that of a boy. “I know only two castes – woman and man. While we call ourselves mukhiya (chief) of our households, we know who the real muhikya is,” she said.

The chief minister claimed that the devi (goddess) comes in the form of Durga when times get tough. “It has always been a devi, not a devta (god), who has taken up the task of eliminating evil and bringing about justice and light,” she said.

The event was attended by women leaders of the BJP and members of erstwhile royal families, besides womenfolk from Jaisalmer and its surrounding districts. Raje was presented with a sword on the occasion.